The Meaning and Origins of Thanksgiving Symbols

Turkey

Nowadays it’s hard to imagine the celebration of Thanksgiving taking place without the centerpiece of the table, the conventional turkey. When scared the turkey makes a “turk turk” sound and it is from this that it has gotten its name. The traditional dinner is a reminder of the “Four Wild Turkeys” served at the first Thanksgiving feast. The festivities conclude with the singing of the “Turkey Song.”

Cornucopia

The cornucopia, or “horn of plenty” is one of the best known symbols of a harvest festival. A horn-shaped container, it is filled to bursting with items from the recent harvest. The original cornucopia was a curved goat’s horn and it was filled to the brim with fruits and grains. Greek legend has it that Amalthea (a goat) broke one of her horns and presented it to the Greek god Zeus in homage. As a sign of gratitude, Zeus set the goat’s image in the sky as the constellation Capricorn.

Corn

One of the best known symbols of Thanksgiving is the corn. With its wide range of colors it adds brightness and cheer to the table. There are some Americans who considered blue and white corn to be sacred because of its connection to the Native Americans and the pilgrims. Quite experienced in growing their own food, the Native Americans had been growing corn for generations before the pilgrims landed on the shores of their country. They became friends with the pilgrims and taught them how to grow corn to feed themselves and how to survive the long, bitter winters. When the time came, corn was a part of the first Thanksgiving dinner. It remains so today in a tradition that reminds us of the importance of that first Thanksgiving so long ago.

Pumpkin

At Thanksgiving tables throughout America it is traditional to serve pumpkin pie as

part of the celebration. Although it has not been proven, historians have declared that the pumpkin played an important part in the first Thanksgiving dinner. Most likely the pilgrims made a pumpkin dish sweetened with honey or syrup. This belief has led to pumpkin pie becoming an American favorite desert at this special time.

Beans

It is widely believed that the Native Americans taught the pilgrims to grow their beans next to cornstalks. This was so that the beans could use the cornstalks as their pole and wrap themselves around it as they grew. That is why American beans are also called “Pole Beans” and are a staple of the Thanksgiving feast.

Cranberry

To this day the cranberry remains an important symbol of Thanksgiving. The cranberry was originally called crane berry. This was because its pink blossoms and drooping head reminded the pilgrims of a crane. However, the pilgrims soon discovered how to sweeten the extremely bitter cranberries with maple sugar, so that they were not only edible, but enjoyable. Ever since cranberry sauce is synonymous with turkey during the Thanksgiving meal.